Daily Archives: 23 Jun 2017

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Those who are strong only in fervor and sharpness, but are not fortified with solid doctrine, weary themselves in their vigorous efforts, make a great noise, rave, [and] make no headway because they build without a foundation. — John Calvin

The editors have as their aim the twofold purpose of commemorating the publication of Erasmus’s New Testament and documenting current Erasmus and humanist biblical scholarship. The present volume collects essays which were presented at a conference addressing those dual issues.

In their preface the editors describe their project and the contents of the volume. They also discuss the quite interesting fact that Erasmus’ chief interest was his Latin edition of the New Testament, not the Greek along with the main motif of Erasmus which appears to have been addressing the tension between theology and philology,

… a tension that tormented the humanist in the last 20 years of his life, that split his legacy into two opposing currents, and that still today noticeably characterizes studies devoted to him (p. xviii).

A cursory glance at the table of contents above indicates just how seriously the editors take these tensions. From Vessey’s illuminating discussion of Erasmus’ turn to critical scholarship to Rummel’s work on his biblical humanism and all the way to Wedel’s amazingly interesting description of the reception of Erasmus’s New Testament in the Reformed Church, the tensions are explicated.

Wedel’s essay in particular grabbed the present reviewer’s attention given the subject matter and held my attention with probing observations like

This is noteworthy, given the general perception that the Swiss Reformers were more interested in the Greek than the Latin. And yet the Latin text of Erasmus was their ‘go to’ source for discussion and debate (doubtless because more clerics understood Latin than Greek).

On the whole, the volume is immensely instructive. Along with the textual contents there are also numerous illustrative plates, an index of authors and editors, and an index of proper names. The work moves scholarship forward. Brilliantly. Consequently, it is very much worth your time.

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We’re at the proof editing stage of this beauty- bit.ly/2mUojC7, and V&R is a pleasure to work with as are all of our contributors. What a smart bunch of gifted writers. Finally, I have to say, Jon Balserak is the dream co-editor. What a guy.

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Carrier, the heating and air-conditioning manufacturer, is laying off more than 600 employees from its Indianapolis plant next month, the same plant Trump vowed to keep on American soil, per CNBC. Those manufacturing jobs will go to Mexico, where labor is significantly cheaper.

Why it matters: Trump heralded the November deal as proof he’d live up to his pledge to protect U.S. jobs. And this comes just a day after Ford announced that it will move production of its Focus model to China, just months after pressure from the Trump administration resulted in its cancelling plans to make it in Mexico; this was instead of keeping the jobs in the U.S., where the car is currently made.

Refresher on the deal: Trump agreed to give Carrier, a unit of United Technologies, up to $7 million if it continued to employ at least 1,069 people at the facility for 10 years, rather than moving it abroad in search of cheaper labor, as originally planned. Carrier also vowed to invest $16 million into the plant. But just a month after the deal was made, CEO Greg Hayes said the $16 million would be invested in automation.

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Gaga can sing but she is as far from a theologian as I am from a singer. Furthermore, many of her views are contrary to the teaching of historic Christianity. This event is nothing but an attempt by the ‘Church’ to pander to popular culture. In short, they’ve sold the Christian faith out.

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Woe to him that is alone. David was alone when Satan drew him to defile his neighbor’s wife. While the sheep flock together they are safe, as being under the shepherd’s eye. But if one straggle from the rest, it is quickly a prey to the ravenous wolf. It is no hard matter to rob that house that stands far from neighbors. The cruel pirate Satan watches for those vessels that sail without a convoy. — GEORGE SWINNOCK

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A former Vanderbilt football player charged with raping an unconscious female student in a dorm room in June 2013 was pressured and bullied into participating, his lawyer contended in the opening of his trial Monday.

In opening statements, defense attorney Katie Hagan said trial jurors must determine if Brandon E. Banks was acting under duress during the rape, which has led to convictions and prison sentences for two of his three teammates also charged in the incident.

On Monday, Assistant District Attorney Jan Norman opened the trial by telling jurors, in graphic detail, that a video shows Banks assaulting the student with a water bottle. Banks’ cellphone also contained 23 of 41 images of the assault, Norman said. At times during the rape, the players responded with laughter and applause, Norman said.

“They’re memorializing each other’s accomplishments in that room — what they were doing, what they were cheering each other on to do, what they were encouraging each other to do,” Norman said in Davidson County Criminal Court. Hagan countered that teammate Brandon Vandenburg “was pressuring and goading” Banks throughout the incident.

That’s right- it’s the ‘I was bullied into being a rapist’ defense… You aren’t responsible for your actions, precious millennial. You’re a rapist because you didn’t want to be teased by your bros.

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A certain monk asked St. Anthony the Great, “What must I do to be saved?” The elder answered him, “Don’t trust in your own righteousness, don’t worry about what’s past, and constrain your tongue and your stomach.” – Saint Anthony the Great (251-356).